Community Copes After Family Found Dead In Berks County

SINKING SPRING, Pa. (CBS) - A Berks County community is still in shock after a family of five was found dead in their Sinking Spring home Saturday afternoon.

Police officers conducting a welfare check found the bodies of the Short family: dad Mark, mom Megan, and children Lianna, 8, Mark, Jr., 5, and Willow, 2.

Investigators also found a handgun and what they described as a "murder-suicide" note inside the home on Winding Brook Drive.

"I couldn't really wrap my head around it," said Michelle Oquendo of Douglassville. "I was a little bit lost last night. I couldn't really sleep either."

Oquendo and her daughter Oasis King, 9, brought stuffed animals to the neighborhood in hopes of starting a memorial for the children.

"We picked these ones because we knew the girls would maybe like Shopkins and unicorns and for the boy or the boys, they would probably like monkeys," King said.

Two years ago, Oquendo says she supported a benefit to raise money for Willow, who had undergone a heart transplant at just six days old. Oquendo later ran into Megan at a grocery store.

"She remembered me and she's very upbeat, she's a very smiley person, warm, loving, that's the vibe you get from her when you speak to her," Oquendo said.

Earlier this year, Megan shared her struggle with PTSD related to Willow's life-threatening health issues in a blog post for Mended Little Hearts Philadelphia region.

The organization posted a tribute to the family on its Facebook page. It reads:

"Today, an entire community is mourning the loss of an amazing mother and her children. Forever in our hearts."

The Berks County District Attorney's Office is expected to hold a news conference Monday to reveal more details. So far, investigators have said that the Shorts had "domestic issues" in the past.